Tent/canopy and housing therefor



Sept. 30, 1969 E. P. MITCHELL 3,469,589

TENT/CANOPY AND HOUSING THEREFOR Filed April 8, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR.

E'l/Gf/VE 44/704544 TENT/CANOPY AND HOUSING THEREFOR Filed April 8, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet FIG- 4 JNVENTGR. ZVGE/V' P 44/76/9541.

United States Patent O 3,469,589 TENT/ CANOPY AND HOUSING THEREFOR Eugene P. Mitchell, 123 S. Portola Lane, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705 Filed Apr. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 719,607 Int. Cl. E04f /02 US. Cl. 135-5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tent/ canopy having a housing adapted for mounting atop a vehicle. The front of the housing is openable to expose a pair of looped straps adapted to support a pole horizontally. The fabric tent/canopy includes a substantially rectangular central portion, to respective edges of which are attached four rectangular flap panels. One edge of the central portion is provided with projecting tab members, the horizontal pole passing through grommets in the tab members, thereby supporting one edge of the tent/canopy. The opposite edges of the central portion is supported by tent poles storable within tubes situated in the housing. Additional tent poles may be used to support the flap panels horizontally, thereby providing a canopy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a tent/canopy and housing therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fabric tent/canopy adapted to be supported as either a tent or a canopy, partial support being provided by attachment to a pole supported horizontally within the housing.

Description of prior art With camping ever more popular, an increasing variety of tents, canopies and other equipment is available for the outdoor enthusiast. In general, each item of equipment is designed to meet a specific need. Thus, prior art tents primarily are designed to provide an enclosed shelter for sleeping and dressing. During daylight, as the temperature rises, the inside of such a tent may become unbearably warm, and for comfort it is desirable to employ a canopy or sunshade, rather than a tent. To this end, there are available various canopies which provide shade from the sun and which have open sides to permit the flow of cooling breezes under the canopy. Thus, to meet the needs of daytime and nighttime comfort, the camper often is forced to purchase and to transport with him both tent and canopy. This, of course increases substantially his camping equipment cost, and necessitates considerable space for storage and transportation of the equipment.

An additional problem of prior art tents is that they 5 are difficult for a single camper to assemble. Typically, a complicated suspension framework first must be set up, then a fabric pyramid suspended from the framework. The task is time consuming and generally requires more than one person.

To overcome these and other shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a tent which is convertible to a canopy, Which is readily stored in its associated housing, and which may be assembled and disassembled rapidly by one man. The inventive tent/ canopy pro- 6 vides a completely enclosed tent structure for sleeping, and opens to provide a substantially planar, horizontal canopy as an open-sided sun shade during the day.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is described herein a tent/ canopy and associated housing. The

3,469,589 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 ice tent/canopy comprises a fabric member having a substantially rectangular central portion and four rectangular flap panels attached to respective edges of the central portion. A tab extending from each corner of the central portion is adapted to receive the upper end of a supporting tent pole. Extending from one edge of the central portion are a plurality of tab members each having a grommet therein.

The tent/canopy housing is adapted for mounting atop a vehicle and includes a bottom, a cover, a front, a back and two sides. One of the sides and the front are hinged to permit opening thereof. Extending from the bottom of the housing are a pair of looped straps adapted to support a pole substantially horizontally. This horizontal pole passes through the grommets in tab members extending from one edge of the tent/canopy central portion, thereby providing a partial support for the tent/canopy when the housing is mounted at an appropriate elevation, as for example, on the top of the vehicle.

The housing also contains a plurality of tubes adapted for storage therein of conventional tent poles. The poles may be used to support flap panels substantially horizontally, co-planar with the central portion, to provide a canopy. Alternatively, the flap panels may drape vertical- 5 ly to provide a tent. The flap panels are provided with zippers for edge-to-edge fastening of adjacent flaps, thereby completely enclosing the interior of the tent.

The removable cover of the tent/canopy housing may be provided with collapsible legs, so that when removed from the housing, the cover is convertible to a table.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a combined tent and canopy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tent/canopy having an associated storage housing 5 adapted for attachment atop a vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tent/canopy which may be assembled or taken down rapidly and by one person.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tent/canopy partial support of which is provided by attachment to a housing mountable atop a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Still other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts in the several figures and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the inventive ten/ canopy, set up as a tent, and its associated housing. The housing is shown with its front and side open, and its top detached for conversion into a table.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the inventive tent/ canopy housing, the tent/canopy itself being stored within the housing.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the inventive tent/ canopy also shown in FIGURE 1; the zipper for fastening edges of adjacent flap portions of the tent is illustrated in this view.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the inventive tent/ canopy set up as a canopy supported at one edge by the housing of FIGURE 2, the housing shown mounted atop 5 astation wagon.

pendently and then sewn onto central portion 11 along the respective edges 1211-1511. Tent/ canopy may be of any appropriate fabric including, but not limited to, canvas, Dacron, cotton, vinyl and the like.

Extending from the corners of central portion 11 of tent/canopy 10 are tabs 16a, 16b,'16c and 16d typically of a strong but flexible material such as cotton or Dacron webbing. Each of tabs 16a-16d is provided with an appropriate grommet 17 having a hole therein of diameter appropriate to receive the upper end 18 (see FIGURE 4) of a conventional tent pole 19. Typically, tent pole 19 may comprise two tubular members, one adapted to telescope within the other and to be set at a selectable length by tightening a thumbscrew. Typically, the upper end 18 of such convention tent pole 19 is of necked down diameter, and it is this necked down region which the hole in grommet 17 is adapted to receive.

Still referring to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, the unattached edges 12b, 13b, 14b, and b of respective flap panels 12-15 each are provided with a plurality of loops 20 adapted for insertion therethrough of a conventional tent stake. Each of the corners of flap panels 1215 adjacent respective edges 12b15b, is provided with a grommet 21, having a hole of sufiicient diameter to receive the upper end 18 of tent pole 19.

Extending from each corner of central portion 11 of fabric tent/ canopy 10 is a zipper 22, most clearly evident in FIGURES 1 and 3, and best illustrated by adjacent flap portions 13 and 14. A first set of teeth 22a of zipper 22 is attached to one edge of flap panel 13, and a second set of teeth 22b is attached to an edge of adjacent flap portion 14. Thus, when the inventive tent/canopy 10 is set up as shown in FIGURE 1, zipper 22 may be used for edge-to-edge fastening of flap panels 13 and 14 into the tent-like configuration shown.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4, edge 12a of central portion 11 is provided with a plurality of tab members 23, each of which may comprise a strong, flexible material such as cotton or Dacron webbing. Each of tab members 23 is provided with a grommeted opening or hole 24 therethrough of diameter slightly greater than the maximum diameter of a conventional tent pole 19. As will be described in detail hereinbelow, tab members 23 are utilized when the inventive tent/canopy is partially supported by its associated housing 25. Central portion 11 also comprises a reinforced region 26 adjacent its center, the function of which will be described hereinbelow.

The inventive tent/ canopy includes an associated housing 25, best illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, within which fabric tent/canopy 10 may be stored. Housing comprises a front 27, a back 28, a side 29, and an openable side 30. Housing 25 also includes a bottom 31, and a detachable top or cover 32. As best shown in FIG- URE 2, housing 25 may be provided with a plurality of fasteners 33, useful for attaching housing 25 to an automobile luggage rack 34, which rack may be supported on the top of a vehicle by means of feet 35.

' The front 27 of housing 25 is attached to the bottom 31 by means of hinges 36, so as to be openable to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The side of housing 25 is attached to back 28 by means of hinges 37, and

is attached to the front 27 by means of hasp 38 and hinge in FIGURE 1) so that when cover 32 is removed from housing 25 and legs 43 set up, cover 32 becomes a table.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 4, housing 25 may be provided with a plurality of hollow tubes 44, preferably of plastic, each having an inner diameter sufficiently large so as to receive a conventional tent pole 19. Tubes 44 preferably are disposed adjacent bottom 31 and may be attached thereto adhesively or by any other appropriate means. The interiors of tubes 44 serve as storage locations for tent poles 19 when the tent poles-are not in use. Housing 25 preferably is provided with thirteen such tubes 44.

As shown in FIGURES land 4, attached to bottom 31, andextending upward within housing 25 are a pair of looped straps 45, each of which may comprise a strong but flexible material such as Dacron or cotton webbing. The loop 46 in each of straps 45 preferably is sufiiciently large to permit a tent pole 19 to be inserted therethrough.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 4, the inventive tent/ canopy 10 is shown set up as a canopy, with one end of fabric central portion 11 supported by housing 25, which housing itself is mounted atop a station wagon or similar vehicle 47. A tent pole 19a is supported substantially horizontally by looped straps 45. Pole 19a extends through each of grommets 24 in tab members 23. With edge 12a of tent/canopy 10 thus supported, it is unnecessary to use tent poles for support of tabs 16:: and 16d. Tent poles are used, however, to support tabs 16a and 16b, as well as to support flap portions 13, 14 and 15 in the horizontal canopy configuration of FIGURE 4. Conventional stake poles 4S and tie lines 49 are used to provide tension on the upper ends 18 of the various tent poles 19.

It will be appreciated that rather than supporting edge 12a of fabric member 10 as shown in FIGURE 4, two additional tent poles (not shown) may be used to support respective tabs 16c and 16d. The vehicle 47, with or without housing 25 attached, then may be driven away from the campsite. With edge 12a supportedby tent poles, flap portion 12 may be extended away from central portion 11, and its edges supported with two additional tent poles (not shown) to provide a canopy over a larger area than that shown in FIGURE 4.

Conversion of the inventive tent/canopy from the canopy configuration illustrated in FIGURE 4 to a tent configuration such as that shown generally in FIGURE 1 readily may be accomplished by removing tent poles 19 from each of the grommet holes 21 along the outer edges of flap panels 12, 13, 14 and 15. Central portion 12 remains substantially horizontal, supported by the tent oles associated with tabs lea-16d. The flap panels then may be draped downward (as illustrated by flaps 13, 14 and 15 in FIGURE 1) to form sides of the tent, or alternatively, the flap portions may be folded back over the top of central portion 11, as shown typically by flap 12 in FIGURE 1. The downwardly extending flaps may be fastened at their adjacent edges by means of zippers 22, thereby providing a completely enclosed area within tent/ canopy 10.

Loops 20 (see FIGURE 1) may be staked to the ground to prevent the flap panels from being blown by the wind. To prevent rain from accumulating atop central portion 11, a tent pole may be placed vertically within the tent so as to extend between the ground and reinforced region 26 of central portion 11. By adjusting the length of this tent pole to be slightly longer than the length of the tent poles used to support the corners of central portion 11, central portion 11 may be slightly pyramided, sufiicient slant being provided so as to insure run-off of rain water.

An outstanding feature of the present invention is that the inventive tent/ canopy may be set up or taken down very easily, typically by one man. For example, to store tent/canopy 10 from the canopy position shown in FIG- URE 4, the tent poles supporting edges 13b and 15b of flap panels 13 and 15 are removed, and these two panels folded back atop central portion 11. Next, tent poles 19b and 19c are removed, and flap panel 14 folded back atop central portion 11. Central portion 11 now is supported along its edge 12a by means of tab members 23 and pole 19a, and along its edge 14a by means of the tent poles extending through tabs 16a and 16b. Finally, central portion 11 itself is folded and placed into housing 25, atop tubes 44, with tab members 23 still threaded by tent pole 19a. Each of the tent poles 19 removed from service may be stored in its appropriate tube 44. Finally, front 27 and side 30 are closed, and top 32 replaced on housing 25 to complete the packing.

To set up the inventive tent/canopy, vehicle 47 is driven to the tent site, cover 32 removed from housing 25, and front 27 and side 30 opened. Next, edge 14a of central portion 11 is pulled from the housing, a step easily accomplished by one man, since edge 12a is supported by horizontal pole 19a which passes through looped straps 45 and through tab members 23. Two tent poles 19 next are set up to support tabs 16a and 16b. Central portion 11, with flap panels 12-15 folded thereon, now is completely supported, and the camper is free to place such other tent poles as required to support flap panels 13, 14 and 15, if desired, in a canopy configuration. Alternatively, tent poles now may be provided to support tabs 16c and 16d, thereby making the inventive tent/ canopy self-supporting, and freeing vehicle 47 for other use.

Although the invention has been described hereinabove in terms of a fabric tent/canopy having a central portion 11 and flap panels 12-15 each of substantially rectangular shape, this is not required. The central portion and flap panels may be of other shape, an edge of the central portion still being supportable by attachment to a pole adapted to be horizontally supported inside housing 25. Similarly, fastening means other than a zipper may be used for edge-to-edge fastening of adjacent flap panels.

While looped straps 45 are illustrated herein as supporting pole 19a, other means of support for pole 19a may be provided within housing 25. For example, sides 29 and 30 may be provided with interior, U-shaped members, or alternatively, with recessed holes, between which pole 19a may be horizontally supported. Housing 25, while shown as including fasteners for attachment atop a vehicle, need not have such attachment means, but could be transported to the tent site, for example, in the trunk of a car. At the tent site, housing 25 could be placed atop a table, formed by removing cover 32 and opening legs 43 while the inventive tent/canopy is set up.

Although the invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tent/canopy combination comprising:

a housing adapted for mounting atop a vehicle, the

front of said housing being openable,

support means attached to said housing for supporting a pole substantially horizontally, said support means comprising at least two looped straps extending from the bottom of said housing adjacent said front,

a fabric tent/ canopy having a substantially rectangular central portion, said tent/canopy further comprising at least one flap panel, an edge of said flap panel being attached to a corresponding edge of said central portion, the width of each flap panel being substantially the same as the length of said corresponding edge to which said flap panel is attached, said tent/ canopy further comprising zipper means extending from the corners of said central portion, for edge-to-edge fastening of adjacent flap panels, said tent/canopy further comprising a tab extending from each corner of said central portion, each of said tabs being adapted to receive an end of a tent pole and attachment means for attaching one edge of said central portion to said supported pole.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a substantiall planar cover detachable from said housing and including collapsible table legs attached to the inside of said cover.

3. A tent/canopy combination comprising:

a housing adapted for mounting atop a vehicle, the

front of said housing being openable,

support means attached to said housing for supporting a pole substantially horizontally, said support means comprising at least two looped straps extending from the bottom of said housing adjacent said front,

a fabric tent/ canopy having a substantially rectangular central portion, said tent/canopy further comprising at least one flap panel, an edge of said flap panel being attached to a corresponding edge of said central portion, the width of each flap panel being substantially the same as the length of said corresponding edge to which said flap panel is attached, said tent/canopy further comprising zipper means extending from the corners of said central portion, for edge-to-edge fastening of adjacent flap panels, said tent/canopy further comprising a tab extending from each corner of said central portion, each of said tabs being adapted to receive an end of a tent pole, and

attachment means for attaching one edge of said central portion to said supported pole, said attachment means comprising a plurality of tab members extending from said one edge of said central portion, each of said tab members having a hole therein, said tab members thus being adapted for through-hole engagement by said horizontally supported pole.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of tubes disposed on the bottom of said housing, and wherein one side of said housing is hingedly attached to the back of said housing, whereby opening of said hinged one side permits insertion and removal of tent poles storable within said tubes.

5. A tent/canopy combination comprising:

a housing adapted for mounting atop a vehicle, the

front and one side of said housing each being openable, said housing further comprising a plurality of tubes extending across the bottom thereof, said tubes each being adapted to receive a tent pole interiorly thereof, said housing further comprising a substantially planar cover detachable from said housing and including collapsible table legs attached to the inside of said cover.

support means attached to said housing for supporting a pole substantially horizontally, said support means comprising at least two looped straps extending from the bottom of said housing,

a fabric tent/canopy having a central portion, and

attachment means for attaching one edge of said central portion to said supported pole.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said fabric tent/canopy comprises at least one flap panel, an edge of said flap panel being attached to a corresponding edge of said central portion.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the width of said flap panel is substantially the same as the length of said corresponding edge to which said flap panel is attached, said tent/canopy further comprising zipper means extending from the corners of said central portion, for edge-to-edge fastening of adjacent flap panels.

8. The combination'defined in claim 5 wherein said central portion is substantially rectangular, said tent/ canopy further comprising a tab extending from each corner of said central portion, each of said tabs being adapted to receive an end of a tent pole.

9. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the front and one side of said housing each is openable, and further comprising a plurality of tubes extending across the bottom of said housing, said tubes each being adapted to receive a tent pole interiorly thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,442,132 5/1948 Laythe 1351 Thornton.

Biagosch 1355 MacKinlay. Burgin. Calthorpe. Moss. 

